PREVIEW
The Colorado Rapids and Houston Dynamo meet in a key interconference matchup for both clubs when the two clash Sunday evening at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids put an end to a three-game winless skid last time out, rolling to a 4-1 win against the MontrÈal Impact in Commerce City. The Dynamo are completing a three-game road swing that started with two shutout defeats, last a 3-0 loss at the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Rapids have a seven-game undefeated streak alive against the Dynamo. Houston's last victory in the series came in a 1-0 win, April 19, 2009; the teams reached a 1-1 draw last April 28 in Houston in their only meeting.

Colorado's only win ever in Houston came in a 2-1 win May 4, 2011 at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo have not won at Colorado in their last four visits, since a 3-1 victory Oct. 4, 2008.

HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo continued their road swing with a second loss, falling 3-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday evening at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Dynamo are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 17 points from 14 games.

LAST MATCH

The Quakes took the lead after Dynamo defender David Horst played the ball back to goalkeeper Tally Hall, who picked it up just outside his own six-yard box, giving the Quakes an indirect free kick. Shea Salinas nudged the ball into the path of Khari Stephenson, who hammered a shot to the back post for the 38th-minute opener.

The lead was doubled just before hour mark. Steven Lenhart went down in a collision with Houston fullback Corey Ashe after being playing in by Yannick Djalo, and referee Geoff Gamble pointed to the spot. Stephenson coolly converted the penalty for his second goal.

It was 3-0 in the in the 70th minute. Chasing down a long ball out of the back, Atiba Harris caught Hall outside of his box and in no-man's land. Harris saw his header go off the right post, but he won the footrace and touched home the rebound.

Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made one change to the team that dropped a 2-0 decision to D.C. United at RFK Stadium. Servando Carrasco came into the side in place of Mark Sherrod.

The trip to Commerce City concludes a three-game road swing for the Dynamo, which started with shutout defeats at D.C. United (0-2) and San Jose (0-3).

"It makes your job a lot harder. Obviously, we had a game Saturday night, followed by a game Wednesday night, followed by a game Sunday night; it's tough. You have to really try and look out for yourself," said midfielder Andrew Driver. "The flights make it even harder. We are disappointed, but I do think we need to perform better even if we we're tired."

Said Servando Carrasco: "I think it's fortifying the defense a little bit," Carrasco said. "I think we've been solid all year ... maybe just focus a little bit at times. I think if we all focus on our individual game in the long run, hopefully by next week, we can change those mistakes and move forward."

The Dynamo have gone 209 minutes since scoring, their second-longest goalless streak this season, after being shut out in three consecutive games and going an MLS-high 335 minutes without a goal from April 5-27.

"I think it comes down to the character of the team. This is a test: we've been knocked down with two bad results on the road and now it's about going back home, having a good week of training and focusing on the game in Colorado," said Carrasco. "Winning changes everything so we're going to focus on that."

The Dynamo were hit with another season-ending injury when it was determined Mark Sherrod suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

"It seems like every year you go through a spell where you're putting guys in positions they don't usually play and guys are getting a chance to make a name for themselves and this year's no different," said goalkeeper Tally Hall.

The Dynamo were forced to recall Jason Johnson and Anthony Arena from loans with USL PRO side Pittsburgh Riverhounds; Johnson made his first MLS appearance of the season at San Jose, coming on as a substitute at halftime.

"You have guys that maybe the fans haven't seen very much but the team knows and has confidence in, and we're ready for them to be a big part of our success," Hall said. "We just have the mentality right now to just be a positive force for the team and sometimes that's what it takes to win."